(Varia Headquarters)
"Well?" came the rough, husky voice of Xanxus di Vongola as Mammon came back.
Due to the war Vongola waged on a certain famiglia and the manhunt down to the last associate, the Varia were just as busy that in this universe, Xanxus didn't find out the truth back when Yoshina was six. However, he recently found out the truth thanks to a conversation he heard not long ago between his adoptive father and someone. He specifically said he lost three sons and cannot afford to lose Yoshina.
But to his knowledge, he was his father's son and that conversation planted a seed of doubt, and snuck into his father's rooms… and found a diary that entailed saving him from his "crazy mother" who bragged that he is his son because of his flames yet little did she know that by making that proclamation, she is attracting death to her son and last Timoteo checked, he never cheated on his late wife nor went to prostitutes as his mother drilled in him respect for women in painful ways. Well, Nonna DID have a temper...
To save him from his mother's stupidity as well as he couldn't bring himself to crush a young boy's hopes that he actually has a father, he took Xanxus in but he knows that the Sky Ring of the Vongola Ring Set is blood-locked. And he recognized his deeds and passion for Vongola, and acknowledged his loyalty, love and passion and he had more than his own blood sons who's not taking things seriously but his father lamented he can never inherit Vongola as Xanxus hoped. It was ironic that he, his foster child, was more serious, hard-working and passionate than his own sons and became a respected man borne of his own efforts and yet his misfortune was his birth. He wished there is something he could make up for it and wondered if being a father to him was enough as well as giving him all he needs to be his own man. He gave to him his needs to become who he is today to forge his own strength and path.
Xanxus was furious. Livid in fact.
His old self would normally blow up in rage but given that Vongola waged a war over the last blood heir's disappearance… said blood heir lived as a clueless civilian with her mother by the way, both unaware of their ties… he can't afford to make the famiglia weaker by venting his rage out he took his rage out in one of the Varia's training grounds instead.
Mammon replayed with an illusion of how the conversation in the hospital played out.
"For now the wife believes that dumbass works in Italy's Intelligence Agency and the kid is amnesiac in Japan?" Squalo frowned. "Oh yeah, weren't we scouting Emiya for our Cloud?"
"Bastard's done a dang good job evading our feelers and he didn't even awaken his flames." Xanxus snorted. "He's more quality if he's evaded the Varia for years and then a disease offs him. Go to Fuyuki for some digging, Squalo. We need more ears here."
"Alright."
(Fuyuki)
The siblings were utterly oblivious of what awaits them as they lived their daily lives… with a guest present.
Reborn introduced himself as one of Kiritsugu's acquaintances and wanted to ensure they were doing well before he leaves. That was fine for the kids.
Reborn also explored the house. Many openings meaning entry and escape doors. These shoji doors are a real riot as they're both a security risk and not.
He looked at Naru's room… and took photos to further study her character. For now she was still upset and grieving, and trying hard to move on so she can't really be good "study material". Her choice of clothing, shoes, accessories and how her bedroom looked indicates she's an innocent maiden of a rich family and she's now the sole successor of a famiglia… yikes.
And Haru was quite the House-Husband and taking care of his sister who was the gardener since she apparently planted the many flowers in their garden. Haru was fine with her helping in the chores, but he won't let her touch the kitchen until he was sure she's good with the knives.
Speaking of knives, Haru's too damn good with blades...as if anything he cuts can't resist him when he cooks. So he could carve food how he pleased before cooking them and DAMN! What. A. Cook. Naru just snagged one hell of a chef as her Lightning.
He could make home-cooked meals taste first-class. HOW? His coffee and espresso are also out of this world.
Well, Naru is definitely very, VERY spoiled with his cooking nothing short of a first-rate chef can satisfy her.
Then there's the Guardian in question.
Taiga Fujimura is currently a College Student, studying to become an English Teacher and checks on the kids from time to time. Only, as a daughter of a yakuza clan she's never done any chore in her life and rather mostly around for the food and her awkward attempts in counseling the kids to help them move on.
"So Fujimura-san, how do you know them?" Reborn asked her.
"I've known Kiri-san since they started moving into this house… well, he was around when the house was being wrecked and rebuilt since how it used to look really suited a haunted house." Taiga shuddered. "This place used to be a Kimodameshi challenge for little kids! Well, when I heard he was one of the three survivors, I felt I wanted to talk to him since he was kind enough to adopt two children who lost everything in that fire." she said with a sad smile. "Not anyone would do that willingly but he did. Scary in face but a real sweetheart when he opens up." Reborn raised an eyebrow at that. Sweetheart is the last thing he could describe in that insane, suicidal assassin. Or maybe he really only shows that side to specific people. "We talked about many things. He once told me I looked like his childhood crush when he was a kid." she giggled.
"When I told him I met two foreigners and how I want to learn languages to understand people better… he told me to start off with English as almost everyone can speak it. He taught me English and it's nothing like the stuff in school books. He said the school books are a joke… he's also very particular and strict with pronunciation. Thanks to that, I have high marks in what I'm aiming for!" she beamed. "I'll graduate soon and apply for a teaching license. My teachers once told me I speak like a native even grandpa's amazed… It's all thanks to Kiri-san." she said. "I'll teach kids proper English as he calls it so one day, work aside, they can communicate better with foreigners."
"For a Yakuza's granddaughter that's a very good aspiration."
"Isn't it?" Taiga smiled. "Well, my daddy is the successor and my older brother the heir anyway so I can do what I want!" she said cheerfully. "I don't get why people fight over being heir when not being heir is much more fun. You get to choose how you live your life and nobody's gonna snark about it!"
"Heh." Reborn snorted. "Sadly, kids from important houses don't see it how you do and drama tends to follow."
"Yeah, I'd rather not deal with that… the two foreigners I met changed my life and Kiri-san set it in stone for me," said Taiga. "I got them to thank for who I am now."
"Hooo… by the way, about the fire… Do gas explosions happen here often?'
"Well, this city really has weak pipes. It tends to happen every sixty years. It needs maintenance… Grandpa lived through those explosions twice in his life. One was when he was eleven years old and then five years ago was the worst explosion in history." Taiga winced. "Then five years ago there was a Serial Murder case and this psycho likes kids too much…" Reborn's eyebrows raised. "... we never did solve that case and we never did find the culprit. A lot of people disappeared too, probably his work. Come to think of it, when I looked into files, gas explosions aside, a large number of disappearances and murders tend to happen every sixty years. All of which, unsolved cases."
Reborn's expression darkened.
Fuyuki City is a volcano waiting to happen on specific time periods? Really? Gas explosions, he can accept if the government is being cheap-ass in repairs, but murders and disappearances at the same time...? Something's up. And clearly no good.
"Izzat right…"
"Yeah, it's bedlam for my family you know! Just because we're yakuza doesn't mean we're responsible! We usually spend that time clearing our names!"